# Wealden District Council elections

Wealden District Council in East Sussex, England is elected every four years. From 2003 until the election in 2019, 55 councillors were elected from 35 wards. From 2019, 45 councillors have been elected from 41 wards.

## Political control

Since the first election to the council in 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:
| Party in control | Years |
| Conservative | 1973–1995 |
| No overall control | 1995–1997 |
| Conservative | 1997–2023 |
| No overall control | 2023-present |

### Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2001 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| Rupert Thornely-Taylor | Conservative | 18 Jul 2001 | 4 May 2003 |
| Nigel Coltman | Conservative | 21 May 2003 | 6 May 2007 |
| Pam Doodes | Conservative | 23 May 2007 | 19 May 2010 |
| Bob Standley | Conservative | 19 May 2010 | 18 May 2022 |
| Ann Newton | Conservative | 18 May 2022 | 18 May 2023 |
| James Partridge | Liberal Democrats | 18 May 2023 | Present |

## Council elections

Summary of the results of recent council elections, click on the year for full details of each election.
* 1973 Wealden District Council election
* 1976 Wealden District Council election
* 1979 Wealden District Council election
* 1983 Wealden District Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 1987 Wealden District Council election
| Year | | Conservative | | Independent | | Liberal Democrats | | Green | | Labour | Notes |
| 1991 | 44 | 44 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1995 | 29 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | District boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same |
| 1999 | 34 | 34 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 34 | 34 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New ward boundaries |
| 2007 | 34 | 34 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Some new ward boundaries |
| 2011 | 47 | 47 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 49 | 49 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 34 | 34 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | New ward boundaries, with the number of seats reduced to 45 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 2 |

## District result maps

* 2003 results map
* 2007 results map
* 2011 results map
* 2015 results map
* 2019 results map
* 2023 results map

## By-election results

By-elections occur when seats become vacant between council elections. Below is a summary of recent by-elections; full by-election results can be found by clicking on the by-election name.
| By-election | Date | Incumbent party | Winning party |
| Pevensey Weston | 28 November 1996 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Wadhurst | 4 September 1997 | Independent | Conservative |
| Buxted | 28 September 1997 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Pevensey Westham | 28 September 1997 | Liberal Democrats | Conservative |
| Herstmonceux | 2 April 1998 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Polegate South | 28 May 1998 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats |
| Heathfield by-election | 7 June 2001 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Uckfield by-election (2) | 29 November 2001 | Liberal Democrats | Conservative |
| Herstmonceux by-election | 4 April 2002 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Uckfield by-election | 27 June 2002 | Conservative | Liberal Democrats |
| Uckfield Ridgewood by-election | 16 September 2004 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats |
| Pevensey and Westham by-election | 29 September 2005 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Crowborough North by-election | 6 April 2006 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Uckfield New Town by-election | 29 June 2006 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats |
| Uckfield New Town by-election | 17 July 2008 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats |
| Alfriston by-election | 25 September 2008 | Conservative | Liberal Democrats |
| Heathfield North and Central by-election | 23 September 2010 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Polegate North by-election | 2 August 2012 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats |
| Heathfield North and Central by-election | 29 November 2012 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Crowborough West by-election | 22 January 2015 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Hellingly by-election | 29 October 2015 | Conservative | Liberal Democrats |
| Crowborough East by-election | 21 January 2016 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Chiddingly and East Hoathly by-election | 20 July 2017 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Hailsham North by-election | 6 May 2021 | Conservative | Liberal Democrats |
| Hailsham South by-election | 6 May 2021 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Heathfield North by-election | 6 May 2021 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Heathfield South by-election | 6 May 2021 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Hartfield by-election | 2 December 2021 | Conservative | Green |
| Hailsham South by-election | 10 February 2022 | Conservative | Liberal Democrats |
| Maresfield by-election | 22 September 2022 | Conservative | Green |